New care home on former Northampton British Timken factory site opens

Staff and Dennis Nightingale pictured cutting the ribbon to officially open the care home.

Dennis Nightingale was yesterday (January 31) invited by Oakdale Care Group to open the residential and dementia care home in Duston, which was home to the former roller-bearing factory.

Home manager Rachel Cadd said: “We have all been keen to respect the Duston community and the strong heritage of British Timken and this has been particularly important to me as my own father worked at the factory.

"Myself and my staff team have enjoyed showing the community around our beautiful new home and we are pleased that our first resident, Iris, was part of our celebrations.”

The three-storey home plays host to 66 bedrooms, café, cinema room and a 'Sky Lounge'.

Mr Nightingale who cut the ribbon to declare the home as officially open said: “I feel privileged to be involved in the opening of Timken Grange care home.

"I spent 46 years at British Timken, which led to me being the last person on site and effectively ‘switching off the lights’.

"This made it extremely moving for me to metaphorically 'switch the lights back on' to a new era of the Timken site. It is great that Oakdale Care Group are continuing the British Timken legacy by including memorabilia and involving the Duston community. I look forward to meeting more residents as they move in and I am sure they will be a great attribute to our village.”